PANJIM: The State Executive Committee (SEC) has directed that no inter-State movement be allowed for the individuals except with valid travel documents as issued by the Ministry of External Affairs or as authorised by the State government for emergent needs such as medical exigencies and those permitted as per various orders issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs vide the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
The SEC noted with satisfaction that the initiative Groceries-on-Wheel has got a good response and felt that the same needs to be supported and expanded.
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Secretary, Finance, Daulat A. Hawaldar, informed the SEC that banks have agreed to extend their public dealing hours from 10 am to 4 pm. He informed that the bankers appreciated the pro-active role of the government in facilitating the banks functioning.
Secretary, Health, Nila Mohanan, IAS, informed that the test results of 29 remaining patients sent to Pune have come out negative including the two tests of the patients who earlier tested positive.
It was informed that since a large number of Goans are living/working abroad including thousands of seafarers, the Chief Minister has already taken up the issue with the Prime Minister for extending all possible help to them.
The members were further informed that the facility of E-Temporary Pass that started on 1200 hrs on April 1, is running satisfactorily. By 1800 hrs on April 2, 1,350 E-Travel Passes were issued. These limited duration passes with the number cap per hour will help facilitate movement of elderly and others who want to buy groceries, medicines, use of ATM/Bank facility etc or in the need of medical attention.
District Observers informed the SEC that the supply chain of essential supplies has improved and most of the grocery shops are open.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jaspal Singh informed the SEC that passenger lists of all trains which arrived in Goa after March 15 were examined and no passenger was found to have attended the Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin. Similarly, the passenger list of Air Asia has been examined with no such traveller found. For other airlines, the process is on-going.
The SEC appreciated that many NGOs and Organisations want to help in providing food etc. for the needy. However, they said the Collectors should coordinate with such charitable organisations to standardise the menu of the food packets, to prevent any complaints of differentiation.
The SEC decided to adopt the Aarogya App developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to keep track of information related to people such as COVID-19 suspects or home quarantined. Some other proposals for the development of similar apps were received by the government, and the SEC appreciated such proposals. However, it was felt that the NIC would be a better suited organisation as it has a Pan-India presence. It was decided that the Secretary (Health) will take necessary steps to operationalise the same.
As per the direction of Supreme Court for the welfare of stranded migrant labourers, the SEC directed both Collectors to provide hygiene kit that may contain essentials such as toothpaste, toothbrush, washing and bathing soaps, and comb for each inmate in these camps. The labour camp/shelter i/c shall ensure proper hygiene and compliance of the norms of social distancing amongst the inmates.
The SEC also conveyed to all concerned that as per MHA orders, any person violating these containment measures or not complying with the above directions will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action u/s 188 of the IPC.
The State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Parimal Rai, IAS, at the Forest Bhavan. It was attended by Principal Secretary, Science and Technology Puneet Goel; Secretary, Transport, SK Bhandari and Secretary Revenue, Member Secretary, SEC and SDMA, Sanjay Kumar.
Also present at the meeting were Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Subhash Chandra; CEO Kunal; Secretary Fisheries PS Reddy, Secretary, Tourism J. Ashok; Secretary, Panchayats Sanjay Grihar; Deputy Inspector General of Police Parmaditya, Secretary, Law C.R. Garg; Secretary, Civil Supply lsha Khosla, among others.
The SEC acknowledged and appreciated the important role played by the staff of PWD, Electricity Department and Water Resources Department involved in providing water supply, electricity and raw water respectively. Despite the lockdown, there have been no complaints of any disruption in these essential services received from any area.
